It isn't just sedans that are struggling in the US. Thanks to the rise of compact crossovers, the demand for subcompact cars is also rapidly declining. It doesn't come as a surprise, then, to find out that Toyota USA is discontinuing the humble Yaris hatchback from its 2019 US line-up.

"We will not be offering a MY2019 Yaris liftback for sale in the U.S. but will continue to offer the MY2019 Yaris sedan," Toyota spokesperson Nancy Hubbell confirmed to us in an email.

The Yaris hatchback had its merits. With a starting price of $16,565, it was very affordable considering it came with safety features such as a pre-collision system. However, the Yaris has been largely unchanged since it debuted in 2007 and has been a slow seller in the US. Last year, Toyota sold just 1,940 units of the Yaris in the US, a sharp drop after selling 8,653 units in 2017.

The Toyota Yaris Sedan, which is essentially a rebadged Mazda 2, on the other hand, will live on as it's arguably better to drive, has a lower price tag, and offers more features than the hatchback.

Previously known as the Yaris iA, the sedan has been renamed to the Yaris for 2019 and has been priced $500 lower at $15,450 with an expanded range of options.

Scrapping the Yaris hatchback seemingly wasn't an easy decision for Toyota, as the automaker had already issued ordering guides for the 2019 Yaris Liftback and the car was listed as "TBA" for months after that. It's unusual to see an automaker issue order guides for a car it no longer intends to build.

It's not all bad news, however, as Toyota will reveal something new for the 2020 model year. "We're working on something new for MY2020 and look forward to seeing you at the New York Auto Show for more details," Hubbell said. The 2019 NY Auto Show kicks off in mid-April so we'll have to wait a couple of months to discover what that might be.